However, it has escalated into a controversy after some segment of the populace opposed the order as, according to them, Vande Mataram's singing amounted to worshipping the motherland and they cannot worship any other than their own God. Soon, fearing loss of vote bank, the ruling party retracted, making the song's recitation voluntary.
In this era of virtual computers, Vertu phones and online carpooling, we still go crazy on unbelievably crazier things. We say, "If sea water can turn Amrit; can milk be far behind??" And then, we react to our National Song being sung saying that we cant; we don't; we have not; we will not...
An adapted excerpt from one of my previous blogs:
Bharat was happy with Bapu but India needed a "Father of the Nation" ala USA. Bharat was happy with Ambassador Novas and Fiat Padminis but India required Skodas and Maybachs. Bharat woke up with pleasure, chanting hymns and offering prayers to Sun God but India wakes up groggily to DrDres and Metallicas.Bharat was content with muris for breakfast, boiled rice for lunch and chappatis for dinner but India needs cornflakes for the morning hunger, pizzas and burgers and hotdogs (why does the list seem endless?) for their afternoon snacks and steaks, beans and 'Chinese' for their dinner tuck.
Changes happen. They did. But, then there are two kinds of changes - one, which benefits the subject and the other, which benefits the object. And in our case, the changes happened were beneficial to the subject - but the aura of the object was strong enough to negate all the good done through these changes.
Who is the real target of the cross-border terrorists? Bharat or India? Why are the eleven world-conquerors, shirt-flingers and jelly-eaters called 'Team India' and not 'Team Bharat'? Why is there a mass consensus on 'India Shining' and no voters for 'Glittering Bharat'? Why does the Constitution pledge begin with "We, the people of India..." And not with "We, the people of Bharat,.." Incidentally, Article I Part I of the Constitution talks about christening the nation and it states, "India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of states." These questions raise eyebrows - and dirt.
As they would say, "The Nation has no identity".
But while questioning the character, one query that keeps lingering in our minds is - what has the nation done in the past few years which would not only determine its future but also to establish its identity?
No, here we specifically do not want to discuss issues like "unwanted rise in citizens"(read: cross-border infiltration) or the coach-captain bickering or for that matter, the budget deficits.
The nation in question has not been able to cope up with numerous issues like population, pollution, illiteracy, and the works. But these topics have been much hammed about. What we exactly need to understand and analyze are core issues, which normally people forget to evaluate.
How many of us are actually aware of the number of domestic companies that have gone bust and factories that have shut in the last decade? How many of us are aware of the "FPP-III"(Family Planning Policy 3) programmes run by the Government? How many of us are attentive to the advent of the "cyber criminals" in our nation? How many Corporate Giants believe and act towards CSR? Hardly some. And that is what I address as the core issue - a sound knowledge of our mistakes and shortcomings and the passion to explore beyond the horizon. The core issue is not to refrain from taking bold steps and making mistakes but is the lack of yearning to learn from the errors of the past.
For certain, we all recall the last time when a bar dancer was arrested for having mafia contacts. We certainly remember the exact number of inches the shirt goes up every time a female tennis player of our nation serves to save the pride of the nation. We fondly retain the statistics of beatings our cricket team has taken in the past few years and the number of times a certain politician has visited the "relaxing and somber palms" of a jail.
But do we remember what happened to the trials of Mattoo and Jessica? Do we recollect whatever happened to Abu Salem and Telgi? Where are they? What are the proceedings? Did we know about the MIGs before Rang De Basanti happen? Or, do we always need the support of Bollywood, every time we want to feel "Indian" or "Bharatiya"?
Why does this exaggerated irony exist in our society?
The problem lies in the way we are. We are poor implementers. Say, in a World Discussion Forum, we would definitely top the charts. But when it would come to implementation, we would stand nowhere. And that is what I address as the core issue.
Instead of dissecting it like toad in a Zoology laboratory, if we realize our follies and straight away ban it from happening again in the future, only then can we proudly declare ourselves smart.
Time and again, we have showed our strength to the world. We have not only tested spunky missiles but have also shown our growing strength in the commercial and product markets. Our brands have reached the level, which is the same, if not more, than that of the so-called "kings of the market". Our entrepreneurs have made money and fame when the others were busy making it to some list or chart. Our products have gained an enviable reputation when others were kicking each other's stomach for market share.
What I am trying to say is that we have the inherent trait to make an impression and retain it for long. But we often lose track - bickering over trivial issues. We know where to start, how to go about it but we do not know where to stop. The brake pedal in our car seems to be utterly dislocated. It is not non-existent. It is simply misplaced. And in the years to come, we need not innovate or discover elements of prosperity. We merely need to locate it and then track it accordingly.
As a nation to prosper, we need no educators, no leaders, and no cricketers. What we need are guides, who will properly channelize our thought process in the right direction and warn us about the "drains and potholes" in our conduit.
The guides would be able to educate the people and not make them literate; they should teach people to have a vision and not sight; they should cremate doubts and not dig controversy - in short, they should be the torchbearers of a better tomorrow.
This is not a blog. Neither a social message. This is a cry for help.
Somebody please help the nation - help the nation in recognizing its "lost" identity.
About the AuthorAbhijit Bhattacharya The author is a Marketing professional in the field of broadcast media for more than 9 years now.
He was born in Kolkata, where he finished his hig...Read Morefirst published:August 28, 2006, 13:33 ISTlast updated:August 28, 2006, 13:33 IST
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A central government directive wanted all schools to recite the first two stanzas of the song at 11 am on September 7 to mark the completion of the centenary celebrations commemorating adoption of the national song.
However, it has escalated into a controversy after some segment of the populace opposed the order as, according to them, Vande Mataram's singing amounted to worshipping the motherland and they cannot worship any other than their own God. Soon, fearing loss of vote bank, the ruling party retracted, making the song's recitation voluntary.
In this era of virtual computers, Vertu phones and online carpooling, we still go crazy on unbelievably crazier things. We say, "If sea water can turn Amrit; can milk be far behind??" And then, we react to our National Song being sung saying that we cant; we don't; we have not; we will not...
An adapted excerpt from one of my previous blogs:
Bharat was happy with Bapu but India needed a "Father of the Nation" ala USA. Bharat was happy with Ambassador Novas and Fiat Padminis but India required Skodas and Maybachs. Bharat woke up with pleasure, chanting hymns and offering prayers to Sun God but India wakes up groggily to DrDres and Metallicas.Bharat was content with muris for breakfast, boiled rice for lunch and chappatis for dinner but India needs cornflakes for the morning hunger, pizzas and burgers and hotdogs (why does the list seem endless?) for their afternoon snacks and steaks, beans and 'Chinese' for their dinner tuck.
Changes happen. They did. But, then there are two kinds of changes - one, which benefits the subject and the other, which benefits the object. And in our case, the changes happened were beneficial to the subject - but the aura of the object was strong enough to negate all the good done through these changes.
Who is the real target of the cross-border terrorists? Bharat or India? Why are the eleven world-conquerors, shirt-flingers and jelly-eaters called 'Team India' and not 'Team Bharat'? Why is there a mass consensus on 'India Shining' and no voters for 'Glittering Bharat'? Why does the Constitution pledge begin with "We, the people of India..." And not with "We, the people of Bharat,.." Incidentally, Article I Part I of the Constitution talks about christening the nation and it states, "India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of states." These questions raise eyebrows - and dirt.
As they would say, "The Nation has no identity".
But while questioning the character, one query that keeps lingering in our minds is - what has the nation done in the past few years which would not only determine its future but also to establish its identity?
No, here we specifically do not want to discuss issues like "unwanted rise in citizens"(read: cross-border infiltration) or the coach-captain bickering or for that matter, the budget deficits.
The nation in question has not been able to cope up with numerous issues like population, pollution, illiteracy, and the works. But these topics have been much hammed about. What we exactly need to understand and analyze are core issues, which normally people forget to evaluate.
How many of us are actually aware of the number of domestic companies that have gone bust and factories that have shut in the last decade? How many of us are aware of the "FPP-III"(Family Planning Policy 3) programmes run by the Government? How many of us are attentive to the advent of the "cyber criminals" in our nation? How many Corporate Giants believe and act towards CSR? Hardly some. And that is what I address as the core issue - a sound knowledge of our mistakes and shortcomings and the passion to explore beyond the horizon. The core issue is not to refrain from taking bold steps and making mistakes but is the lack of yearning to learn from the errors of the past.
For certain, we all recall the last time when a bar dancer was arrested for having mafia contacts. We certainly remember the exact number of inches the shirt goes up every time a female tennis player of our nation serves to save the pride of the nation. We fondly retain the statistics of beatings our cricket team has taken in the past few years and the number of times a certain politician has visited the "relaxing and somber palms" of a jail.
But do we remember what happened to the trials of Mattoo and Jessica? Do we recollect whatever happened to Abu Salem and Telgi? Where are they? What are the proceedings? Did we know about the MIGs before Rang De Basanti happen? Or, do we always need the support of Bollywood, every time we want to feel "Indian" or "Bharatiya"?
Why does this exaggerated irony exist in our society?
The problem lies in the way we are. We are poor implementers. Say, in a World Discussion Forum, we would definitely top the charts. But when it would come to implementation, we would stand nowhere. And that is what I address as the core issue.
Instead of dissecting it like toad in a Zoology laboratory, if we realize our follies and straight away ban it from happening again in the future, only then can we proudly declare ourselves smart.
Time and again, we have showed our strength to the world. We have not only tested spunky missiles but have also shown our growing strength in the commercial and product markets. Our brands have reached the level, which is the same, if not more, than that of the so-called "kings of the market". Our entrepreneurs have made money and fame when the others were busy making it to some list or chart. Our products have gained an enviable reputation when others were kicking each other's stomach for market share.
What I am trying to say is that we have the inherent trait to make an impression and retain it for long. But we often lose track - bickering over trivial issues. We know where to start, how to go about it but we do not know where to stop. The brake pedal in our car seems to be utterly dislocated. It is not non-existent. It is simply misplaced. And in the years to come, we need not innovate or discover elements of prosperity. We merely need to locate it and then track it accordingly.
As a nation to prosper, we need no educators, no leaders, and no cricketers. What we need are guides, who will properly channelize our thought process in the right direction and warn us about the "drains and potholes" in our conduit.
The guides would be able to educate the people and not make them literate; they should teach people to have a vision and not sight; they should cremate doubts and not dig controversy - in short, they should be the torchbearers of a better tomorrow.
This is not a blog. Neither a social message. This is a cry for help.
Somebody please help the nation - help the nation in recognizing its "lost" identity.
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